Your Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide

We test all of our products on very willing human participants, instead of subjecting animals to shampoo in their eyes or soap down their throats. Sounds reasonable, right? Unfortunately, animal testing is a cruel, irrelevant practice that is still commonplace for many companies. Tens of thousands of products lining the shelves of your local drugstore, supermarket or department store are regularly tested on defenseless animals.

How do you know if a company tests on animals? Read the labels! Our packaging says 'Fighting Animal Testing', but other brands will state their message simply, like 'Not tested on animals' or 'We do not test on animals'.

Don't be too quick to judge- if the label doesn't state either way, it doesn't necessarily mean the company tests on animals. The best way to be sure is to contact them directly and ask about their policy. If they do test on animals, ask them why and let them know that you're concerned as a customer. If you're a longstanding customer who won't be buying their product anymore because of animal testing, tell them that too! It's a powerful message, and one that more companies need to hear in order to change their policies.

Here are the top five products you regularly purchase (and might not know are tested on animals):

Cosmetics

Okay, this may seem like an obvious one, but many people don't know that the term 'cosmetics' extends beyond mascara and nail polish. It also includes soap, shampoo, facial cleansers, body lotions- anything you put on your skin for cosmetic purposes.

Household Cleaning Products

Animals are often subject to toxicity tests for products like glass cleaner, dish detergent, floor polish, air freshener and carpet cleaner. Even that fabric softener you love to add to your sheets may have been tested on animals!

If you turn a bottle of vitamins over, you'll often see a maximum dosage recommendation. The manufacturer likely determined the level at which the vitamin or supplement becomes poisonous based on animal tests.

Office Supplies

White out, keyboard cleaner, pen inks- even glue, are tested on animals. It sounds strange, but all of these products have the potential to come in contact with, and be absorbed by, human skin.

Engaging the companies you buy from based on their ethics is one of the most effective things you can do to discourage animal testing. I love this quote from author and activist Anna Lappe; "Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for what kind of world you want."

If where you spend your money is a conscious (and cruelty-free) act, it has the power to create enormous change in our world.